RESUMO
Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remains a significant global health concern, with a growing recognition of its impact on young adults, particularly young female adults. Although gender-related factors, defined as a social construct that encompasses 4 distinct dimensions (gender roles, gender identity, gender relations, and institutionalized gender) are undoubtedly relevant across age groups, young female patients with ACS face specific challenges and disparities in outcomes, compared to other populations. This narrative review examines the role of gender-related factors-specifically, gender roles, gender identity, gender relations, and institutionalized gender-in influencing objective and subjective ACS outcomes in young female patients. In the 5 articles identified, the objective outcomes included hospital readmission, "door-to-electrocardiography" time, and coronary atherosclerosis progression. Subjective outcomes, such as physical and mental functional status, quality of life, physical limitations, and vital exhaustion, were also examined. Being employed, which is a gender role, emerged as a protective factor against hospital readmission. Gender identity factors such as depression and stress were correlated with negative outcomes, and anxiety influenced "door-to-electrocardiography" times. Institutional factors, including income disparities, affected readmission likelihood. Strong social support decreased physical limitations post-ACS, whereas financial challenges and lower education negatively impacted quality of life and vital exhaustion. These findings underscore the intricate interplay of gender dimensions in shaping ACS outcomes among young female patients. Integrating these insights into clinical practice and research can enhance care, mitigate disparities, and foster improved cardiovascular health in this vulnerable population.
Le syndrome coronarien aigu (SCA) demeure un problème de santé préoccupant à l'échelle mondiale, avec une reconnaissance croissante de ses conséquences chez les jeunes adultes, plus particulièrement les jeunes femmes adultes. Les facteurs liés au genre, définis comme un construit social à quatre dimensions distinctes (les rôles liés au genre, l'identité de genre, les relations de genre et le genre institutionnalisé) sont indéniablement d'une grande importance dans tous les groupes d'âge, mais les jeunes patientes atteintes d'un SCA font face à des disparités et des défis particuliers à l'égard des résultats de santé par rapport à d'autres populations. La présente synthèse narrative propose un examen de l'influence des facteurs liés au genre (plus particulièrement les rôles liés au genre, l'identité de genre, les relations de genre et le genre institutionnalisé) sur les issues objectives et subjectives du SCA chez les jeunes patientes. Dans les 5 articles retenus, les issues objectives incluaient la réadmission à l'hôpital, le temps écoulé entre l'arrivée à l'hôpital et la réalisation de l'électrocardiographie et l'évolution de l'athérosclérose coronarienne. Les issues subjectives, comme le statut fonctionnel physique et mental, la qualité de vie, les limitations physiques et le syndrome d'épuisement, ont également été examinées. Être employé, qui est un rôle de genre, est apparu comme facteur de protection contre la réadmission à l'hôpital. Des facteurs liés à l'identité de genre, comme la dépression et le stress, étaient corrélés à des issues négatives et l'anxiété était liée au temps écoulé entre l'arrivée à l'hôpital et la réalisation de l'électrocardiographie. Les facteurs liés aux institutions, y compris les disparités de revenus, influençaient la probabilité de réadmission à l'hôpital. La présence d'un bon réseau social était associée à de plus faibles limitations physiques après le SCA, alors que les problèmes financiers et un faible niveau d'éducation avaient une influence néfaste sur la qualité de vie et le syndrome d'épuisement. Ces résultats font ressortir les interactions complexes entre les différentes dimensions du genre qui façonnent les issues du SCA chez les jeunes patientes. L'intégration de ces renseignements dans la pratique clinique et dans la recherche scientifique pourrait permettre d'améliorer les soins, de limiter les disparités auxquelles font face ces patientes et de favoriser une meilleure santé cardiovasculaire au sein de cette population vulnérable.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Sex and gender are believed to influence vaccine response. Yet, the relationship between sex and gender and COVID-19 vaccine efficacy is poorly understood and remains under-investigated. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review to determine whether and to what extent post-approval COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) studies report sex-disaggregated VE data. We searched four publication and pre-publication databases and additional grey literature sources for relevant published/preprint studies released between 1 January 2020 and 1 October 2021 (i.e., pre-Omicron era). We included observational studies providing VE estimates for one or more licensed/approved COVID-19 vaccines and including both males and females. Two reviewers independently assessed study eligibility, extracted data, and assessed risk-of-bias through a modified version of Cochrane's ROBINS-I tool. A qualitative data synthesis was performed. RESULTS: Here we show that, among 240 eligible publications, 68 (28.3%) do not report the sex distribution among participants. Only 21/240 (8.8%) studies provide sex-disaggregated VE estimates, and high between-study heterogeneity regarding design, target population, outcomes, and vaccine type/timing prevent the assessment of sex in determining COVID-19 VE across studies. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that few COVID-19 vaccine research publications account for sex. Improved adherence to recommended reporting guidelines will ensure that the evidence generated can be used to better understand the relationship between sex and gender and VE.
The level of protection that vaccines provide against COVID-19 might depend on a person's sex or gender. However, sex and gender are not always reported in studies on the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. Here, we systematically reviewed the literature on COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness and looked at whether the studies we found separated out their data on vaccine effectiveness by participants' sex. Out of the 240 publications we identified, 68 (28.3%) did not report the sex of the participants in their study, and only 21 studies (8.8%) reported vaccine effectiveness data separated by sex. These results show that a substantial proportion of COVID-19 vaccine research publications do not account for sex. Efforts should be made by researchers to study and report the relationship between sex and vaccine effectiveness, to help to optimise vaccination strategies so that all people are adequately protected.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Lassa fever (LF) is caused by a viral pathogen with pandemic potential. LF vaccines have the potential to prevent significant disease in individuals at risk of infection, but no such vaccine has been licensed or authorised for use thus far. We conducted a scoping review to identify and compare registered phase 1, 2 or 3 clinical trials of LF vaccine candidates, and appraise the current trajectory of LF vaccine development. METHOD: We systematically searched 24 trial registries, PubMed, relevant conference abstracts and additional grey literature sources up to 27 October 2022. After extracting key details about each vaccine candidate and each eligible trial, we qualitatively synthesised the evidence. RESULTS: We found that four LF vaccine candidates (INO-4500, MV-LASV, rVSV∆G-LASV-GPC, and EBS-LASV) have entered the clinical stage of assessment. Five phase 1 trials (all focused on healthy adults) and one phase 2 trial (involving a broader age group from 18 months to 70 years) evaluating one of these vaccines have been registered to date. Here, we describe the characteristics of each vaccine candidate and trial and compare them to WHO's target product profile for Lassa vaccines. CONCLUSION: Though LF vaccine development is still in early stages, current progress towards a safe and effective vaccine is encouraging.